Power outage impedes release of Americans

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Haiti's creaky, quake-damaged electrical system apparently delayed on Monday a judge's decision on whether to release 10 Americans charged with child kidnapping.

Prosecutor Josephe Manes Louis said he completed his recommendation to the judge, as the law requires, but that a power outage Monday kept him from printing it out and delivering it.

"I have made my decision," he said. "What is blocking me now is the electricity." Power has only been restored to about one-fifth of Port-au-Prince.

Judge Bernard Saint-Vil said on Thursday he would recommend the Americans be granted provisional release.

He said he accepted the defense argument that the Americans had good intentions.

The Americans were arrested on Jan. 29 trying to take 33 children out of Haiti. They say they were on humanitarian mission and only wanted to help children after the Jan. 12 earthquake.